Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Watch as award-winning photographer Chase Jarvis spells out all the steps of a commercial photo shoot from concept and contracts to delivery of final images. Check out the tech specs of his equipment, lighting diagrams, and all the details you need to nail a shoot of your own. by achaser123

PhotoBin.com's welcome page is the home base for new and returning users. Within the welcome page, the My PhotoBin menu provides a fast and easy path to access all photo organizing tools and help menu items. Public and private options offer users the ability to invite, accept or reject contacts. And consumers can tag and share their photos in personalized Web sites directly from any computer with an Internet connection.

"It's all about making uploading your kid's birthday party pictures fast, easy and fun, and not a tedious chore," says CEO Steve Weber. "It's about sharing moments with your family and friends days later -- even hours later -- rather than months later. And it's about giving photo enthusiasts an amazing look for their own portfolio galleries."

Among its key features, users can toggle between two views: 3-D and 2-D. The visually engaging and interactive 3-D Photo Wall feature allows users to view photo collections in an interactive, cinematic perspective, and without the clutter of advertising. (The 3-D Photo Wall is not a plug-in and does not require a download.) For those who prefer a slower, more traditional view, the 2-D panel is also available.

With its simplified user interface and tech-forward style, PhotoBin.com offers busy consumers a comfortable, fun environment to get organized fast. PhotoBin.com's intuitive drag-and-drop interface and flexible features work for busy moms and dads as well as photography hobbyists and professionals -- from a soccer mom with hundreds of game shots to a photo enthusiast who specializes in nature shots to a wedding photographer with high-volume clients.

PhotoBin.com values its customers' images, using SSL, firewall-protected servers and redundant storage methods, backing up files at co-location centers across the United States.

Launched in April 2008, San Diego-based PhotoBin.com is committed to redefining photo archiving, presentation and photo sharing. PhotoBin.com is a friendly, tech-forward provider of accessible visual sharing innovations, including the PhotoBin.com 3-D Photo Wall. PhotoBin.com is a division of Z58, Inc., a photography-focused resource for photography business training, online photo portfolios and products. For more information, visit http://www.PhotoBin.com.

Website and Online Storefront Solution Expands Functions with Eyes Set on Helping Pro Photo Businesses Grow, Profit and ThriveAUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Building upon its industry-leading business model, PhotoReflect announces new tools, functionality and services resulting in the easiest and most feature-rich way for photographers to publish and sell photography to their customers online. With this announcement, PhotoReflect continues to be the only full-suite solution that allows photographers to choose lab partners and/or print themselves for order fulfillment while now also completely automating personalized photo gifts, greeting cards, multi-pose and item packages, bordered and digital products, and more with zero upfront cost.

“Providing money-making opportunities for pro photographers in today’s highly competitive marketplace is what PhotoReflect is all about,” explains Graham McFarland, CEO of ExpressDigital, PhotoReflect’s parent company. He continues: “Presenting and selling photos online has become an expectation of photography customers and we take it upon ourselves to empower photographers to meet these and future expectations. Today we commemorate a new revolution in free and accessible technologies designed to help photographers sell and communicate with their customers. Tomorrow you can expect even more.”

Celebrating a decade online, PhotoReflect is the industry pioneer that has made its mark with a business model that dictates to never charge for service if it does not succeed in helping the photographer become more profitable. This mission and total independence (from labs, major manufacturers and other third-party interests) is the brainchild of extensive new features that include interactive photo gift and card creators, an online dashboard that is also accessible via iPhone, Palm Pre, Netbooks and other internet-enabled devices, totally unique and customer-driven products, and marketing tools. In addition, PhotoReflect unveils a new logo and website, has updated over 120 site and storefront style options and offers a streamlined set-up process to all users.

VICTORIA, British Columbia – Sept. 29, 2009 – ACD Systems International Inc today unveiled ACDSee™ Pro 3, a new version of its leading digital image management software that retains the same fast and flexible features photographers rely upon and incorporates an enhanced user experience that delivers professional level workflow tools at a tremendous value.

ACDSee Pro 3 builds on its reputation as a leading viewer, browser and organizer with new advanced speed capabilities in the editing and online stages. For example, the program’s unique process mode integrates two highly prized features – nondestructive image editing and precise pixel-level editing – into one seamless application.

“ACDSee Pro 3 is geared around saving time and offers photographers the ability to customize their own workflow and speed up the process of preparing and sharing their photos,” said Cam Carmichael, product manager for ACD Systems, who noted that more than 10,000 professional photographers worldwide participated in the beta test program. “The Pro 3 structure makes it easy for users to achieve their desired results quickly and efficiently.”

Introduced in early 2006, ACDSee Pro has historically been designed around mode-based operations, so this new, updated version will be familiar to current ACDSee Pro users. The software emphasizes four areas of activity – manage, view, process and online – that optimizes each step in the photography workflow in one application.

“I’m on assignment overseas often and the last thing I want to worry about is my workflow,” said Peter Pereira, a photojournalist and 4SEE Photo Agency photographer. “I’ve been a longtime ACDSee Pro user and the latest version is top-notch image software. I’ve tried them all and this is my favorite.”

Manage: Digital asset managementACDSee Pro 3 provides photographers with the capability to manage digital assets to their own specifications using both folders and metadata. The manage mode speeds the process of browsing, cataloging, retrieving, and presenting collections with flexible time-saving tools. New additions to the robust sharing capabilities allow users to distribute their creative work effortlessly through SMTP-enabled e-mail applications such as Gmail™ and Yahoo!® Mail Plus, and publish images to their Web sites via a new FTP uploader.

As in previous versions of ACDSee Pro, ACDSee Pro 3 supports the management of more than 100 file types and will be regularly updated to support the latest RAW formats as new camera models are released.

View: Unparalleled image viewingIn view mode, images can be seen in full size at unparalleled speeds. Photographers can quickly scan through selected images with click advance or auto advance features, or flip between images using the new filmstrip window and remain oriented within a large group of files.

Process: Dynamic imaging processingACDSee Pro 3’s new process mode integrates nondestructive image editing and precise pixel-level editing into one seamless application. Users can take advantage of the new mode to dynamically adjust images of any format, from RAW files to TIFFs and JPEGs, and easily complete both global nondestructive adjustments and pixel-level editing on any image in one intuitive workflow. Unlike other programs that make users wait while changes apply, ACDSee Pro 3 allows users to see the outcome of their adjustments in real time.

Online: Photo sharing with free storagePhotographers can easily store and share images online without leaving the application in ACDSee Pro 3’s new online mode, which connects users to a free 2 GB account on the ACDSee Online Web site. The online mode is a convenient way to create, store, share and manage albums and access images when away from the desktop computer. ACDSee Pro 3 image folders can quickly and easily be dragged and dropped directly on the secure, password-protected online storage space. The ACDSee Online site, which is powered by Amazon Web Services™, the same secure infrastructure that backs Amazon.com and its affiliated sites, offers a hierarchical folder tree structure so images can be easily organized.

AvailabilityACDSee Pro 3 is available for a free 30-day trial and for purchase at $169.99 (USD) by visiting www.acdsee.com. Registered owners of ACDSee Pro, Pro 2 and Pro 2.5 are eligible to upgrade for less than $90.00 (USD).

About ACD Systems International Inc.Headquartered in British Columbia since 1993, ACD Systems International Inc. is one of the world’s leading developers and marketers of digital imaging software, including the renowned ACDSee image management tool and Canvas, an advanced technical illustration and graphics program. ACD Systems has millions of consumer and business users and more than 33,000 corporate customers, including many Fortune 500 companies. For further details, please visit www.acdsee.com.

ACD and ACDSee are trademarks of ACD Systems International Inc. and may be registered in Canada, the United States, the European Union, Japan or certain other jurisdictions. Canvas is a trademark of ACD Systems of America, Inc. and may be registered in certain jurisdictions. Trademarks of ACD Systems of America, Inc. are used under license by ACD Systems International Inc. or its subsidiaries.

All other marks, products and company names are the property of their respective owners.

Large Format Photography Solution Ideal for Exposure and Composition Tests

Valhalla, NY, September 29, 2009 –FUJIIFLM U.S.A., Inc today announced the availability of Fujifilm FP-100B 4x5 black and white peel-apart sheet film to the US market. Used by many professional and commercial large format photographers, the availability of FP-100B 4x5 instant film provides a practical proofing and testing solution to check light, depth and overall composition when shooting.

“Fujifilm recognizes that there is a need for black and white instant 4x5 film in niche markets such as large format imaging,” said Kayce Baker, director of marketing, Pro Markets, Imaging Division, FUJIFILM U.S.A, Inc. “As long as there is a need in the U.S. marketplace for instant film, Fujifilm hopes to supply it.”

Fujifilm FP-100B 4x5 instant film is a positive, “peel-apart” panchromatic material designed for camera back-incorporated photographic equipment and cameras that accept instant film packs. Because of its sharp and precise image quality, the film is ideal for professional and commercial applications of all kinds, particularly those that require highly magnified images.

FP-100B 4x5 instant film includes features such as:• Develops instantly in 30 seconds.• Rich gradation, fine grain, and exceptional resolution.• Performs well in various lighting conditions.• Produces glossy finished photos with an image area of 3.5” x 4.5”.• Available in 10 sheets per pack, MSRP $42.40.• Requires use of the Fujifilm 4x5 Pack Holder – PA-45.

Since first introducing peel-apart type instant films to the United States in 2003, Fujifilm has expanded their line-up of instant film products. Most recently, Fujifilm has brought two instant camera systems to the US market from Asia: a consumer model, the Instax Mini 7S camera and Instax Mini instant film which was announced last week, and the professional grade Instax 200 camera and Instax Wide Format instant film announced last fall. The company’s ongoing commitment to the culture of photography is a global, corporate commitment that is a key part of how Fujifilm contributes to the quality of life for people worldwide.

Fujifilm FP-100B 4x5 instant film is available now and can be purchased wherever Fujifilm professional films are sold. For more information, go to www.fujifilmusa.com.

About FUJIFILMFUJIFILM U.S.A. Inc. is a marketing subsidiary of FUJIFILM Corporation providing digital and analog photographic imaging systems and services and Motion Picture Film products and services to consumers, professionals and businesses. For more information please visit www.fujifilmusa.com, or go to www.twitter.com/fujifilmus to follow Fujifilm on Twitter. To receive news and information direct from Fujifilm U.S.A. via RSS, subscribe free at www.fujifilmusa.com/rss.

FUJIFILM Corporation brings continuous innovation and leading-edge products to a broad spectrum of industries, including electronic imaging, photofinishing equipment, medical systems, life sciences, graphic arts, flat panel display materials, and office products, based on a vast portfolio of digital, optical, fine chemical and thin film coating technologies. The company was among the top 15 companies around the world granted U.S. patents in 2008, employs more than 70,000 people worldwide and in the year ended March 31, 2009, had global revenues of $24 billion. Fujifilm is committed to environmental stewardship and good corporate citizenship. For more information, please visit www.fujifilmholdings.com.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Mesa, AZ—September 30, 2009: The3dStudio.com, Inc. (www.the3dstudio.com) announces their collection has reached a new milestone—500,000 royalty-free 2D and 3D resources are now available on the web site, and more are being added each day.

The company, one of the oldest and largest in the industry, also unveiled a new Member Loyalty Program. President Matt Anderson says: We’re always looking for ways to give our authors the highest royalty rates possible and we think our new Member Loyalty Program is the answer. Many authors want to form long term partnerships with us, so we will pay a 70% royalty rate (10% more than our standard rate) to those who commit to working with us for a five year period. When combined with our affiliate program authors can earn 90% in royalties on affiliate orders, an unheard of rate.” Additional details about the Member Loyalty Program can be found at: http://www.the3dstudio.com/help.aspx?id_help=23

The new Stock Photos and Images category continues to grow as The3dStudio.com changes the way stock photos are sold. There is no prepaying for credits or subscriptions; images are available for instant download after payment is made using a major credit card or PayPal.

The3dStudio.com is a one-stop shop for a wide range of free and priced resources including 3D models, textures, tutorials, plugins, and software, as well as stock photography and images. Expert custom work and free file conversion are available. The large collection of 3D models include vehicles, weapons, architectural elements and much more, and are used by architects, game designers, ad agencies, and others.

The3dStudio.com provides the best customer service possible, with fast and personal responses seven days a week via email. Customers never receive an automated or canned reply. The company offers many benefits to buyers and sellers and there is no cost to become a member or to sell resources at The3dStudio.com.

COPENHAGEN, DENMARK--(Marketwire - September 28, 2009) -Phase One, the world's leader in open-platform medium format camera systems and solutions, today announced the Phase One 645DF camera. Engineered in partnership with Mamiya Digital Imaging for superior quality image capture and ease of handling, it sets a new standard for high flash sync speeds -- up to 1/1600 of a second.

Also today, Phase One announced the availability of three new high performance leaf shutter lenses, 55mm, 80mm and 110mm, all f/2.8 and all designed with the Phase One 645DF camera in mind. The lenses are a result of close collaboration with Mamiya Digital Imaging and Schneider Kreuznach (see today's related announcement).

"Our patent-pending flash sync breakthrough eases working with wide open apertures and fill-in flash on location," said Jan H. Christiansen, Phase One marketing director. "We already offer the most flexible exposure times ranging from 1/4000 of a second to one full hour. Setting new performance standards is all about expanding creative options for photographers."

The 645DF camera is the only 645 medium format camera which supports both focal plane and leaf shutters, expanding photographers' innovative possibilities by leveraging the two shutter technologies seamlessly for world class photography, whether this involves ultra-fast flash sync speeds or extremely flexible exposure times.

The new camera introduces many performance improvements over its predecessor. Capture responsiveness and autofocus speed is highly improved giving photographers up to 5 times faster performance in a typical fashion set up.

The 645DF also offers a breakthrough workflow improvement -- custom-shooting modes. For the first time in a medium-format camera, photographers can "dial up" a pre-defined mode, where the camera is instantly set up for a given shooting scenario, e.g. product, portrait or landscape photography.

Phase One builds flexible, open photographic systems to support a professional's style, needs and working preference. The Phase One 645DF camera supports the world's finest digital backs, ensuring freedom of choice and investment protection for years to come. It is compatible with digital backs designed for the Phase One / Mamiya AFD mount, including backs from Phase One, Leaf, Mamiya and others.

Phase One is the world's leader in open-platform based medium format camera systems and solutions. Phase One medium format cameras, digital backs and lenses are designed to deliver superior quality image capture and investment value. Phase One's Capture One software helps streamline capture and post-production processes for both medium format and DSLR cameras. Phase One products are known for their quality, flexibility and speed enabling pro photographers shooting in a wide range of formats to achieve their creative visions without compromise.

Phase One is an employee-owned company based in Copenhagen with offices in New York, London, Tokyo, Cologne and Shanghai.

For more information about the products, visit the Phase One web site at www.phaseone.com.

Phase One is a registered trademark of Phase One A/S. All other brand or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

New Version Brings Improved Color Correction, Additional Image Framing Content and the New Make It Cool! Module That Gives Digital Photos a Professional LookPORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--onOne Software, Inc., a leading developer of time-saving solutions for professional and advanced amateur photographers, today announced a new version of Photo Essentials 3 for Adobe Photoshop Elements. onOne Photo Essentials 3 is a collection of five tools that painlessly correct color, remove unwanted backgrounds, add photographic effects and enlarge photos. These easy-to-use tools help photography enthusiasts get the job done quickly and easily in Adobe® Photoshop® Elements.

* New Photo Essentials Palette – The Palette provides quick access to all five modules from a single location right inside Photoshop Elements. * Make It Cool – New in Essentials 3, this offers a library with dozens of professional effects that can be added to images in one click. * Make It Better – Turn your snapshots into professional images. Automatically fix brightness, contrast, color and sharpness with no need to understand cryptic sliders. * Cut It Out – Easily remove an unwanted background while maintaining fine detail such as hair, clouds and glass. * Frame It – Choose from hundreds of easy to add edge and border effects to give pictures the perfect finishing touch. * Enlarge It – Get sharp, poster sized prints out of your photos, even from camera phones.

"Our mission is to provide tools that help make digital photography easier, faster and better. onOne Photo Essentials 3 delivers on this by helping amateur photographers spend less time in front of their computer correcting their digital images and more time behind the camera taking pictures," said Craig Keudell, president of onOne Software. "And with this new version of Photo Essentials 3 comes a completely new module, Make It Cool, based on our award-winning PhotoTools 2 plug-in, a new dynamic range optimization algorithm in Make It Better and a new version of the Photo Essentials Palette."

Availability

onOne Software’s Photo Essentials 3 will be available in October 2009 for $69.99. Customers who purchase Photo Essentials 2 on or after September 24, 2009 will receive a complimentary upgrade to Photo Essentials 3 as an electronic download for free. For more information on Photo Essentials, please visit www.ononesoftware.com/essentials.

About onOne Software

onOne Software, Inc. a leading developer of innovative software tools for photographers, develops time-saving software solutions for professional and advanced amateur photographers. onOne Software solutions have been created to help photographers spend more of their time behind the camera taking pictures instead of the computer workstation. Solutions include a wide range of easy-to-use plug-in enhancements for Adobe Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, Photoshop Lightroom, Apple Aperture and Apple iPhoto as well as photography apps for the Apple iPhone. Founded in 2005, onOne Software is a privately held company located in Portland, Oregon. For additional information, visit www.ononesoftware.com or call 1-888-968-1468.

Brigitte Bardot, the 1950s French film icon, turns 75 on Monday with a very first exhibition in her honour. The Paris show, gathering some 2,000 photos, films and mementos -- builds up the legend of the woman who came to embody sexual liberation.

OBERKOCHEN/Germany, 28.09.2009. Dusk is falling in Manhattan, and a swarm of commuters on their way home is hurriedly crossing the street toward Grand Central Station. Behind them, the skyscrapers reflect the golden light of the setting sun. To capture this unique atmosphere, photographers need a fast wide-angle lens.

Carl Zeiss is proud to present the Distagon T* 2,8/21 ZE, an ultra-wide-angle lens with EF bayonet designed specifically for such tricky shooting moments. It fits all analogue and digital EOS camera models. It is ideal for archi- tectural and landscape photography. Following the recent release of the Distagon T* 3,5/18 ZE, the new Distagon T* 2,8/21 ZE is now the second Carl Zeiss wide-angle lens with EF bayonet on the market.

Photographers taking wide-angle shots often encounter image errors at the transition between bright and dark light as a result of lenses breaking the various wavelengths differently. The Distagon T* 2,8/21 ZE’s ability to flawlessly correct color errors prevents color fringing and unwanted lack of focus that can result from chromatic aberrations. Thanks to these capabilities, the Distagon T* 2,8/21 ZE is ideal for contrast-rich scenes and intense lighting angles. The lens’s floating elements design also guarantees high imaging performance, from close-ups to infinity. Thanks to the Carl Zeiss T* anti-reflex coating and meticulously-crafted lenses, the Distagon T* 2,8/21 ZE is not affected by reflections or stray light. Capturing scenes with tough lighting conditions, such as the summer dusk in downtown Manhattan, works every time—even with wide aperture settings.

The Distagon T* 2,8/21 ZE will be available in autumn this year for a suggested retail price of EUR 1.549 (including German VAT of 19%)*.

With the release of the new H4D-60, the first H4D camera and most recent addition to the Hasselblad H System, Hasselblad marks the beginning of a new chapter in the history of medium format DSLRs. The H4D-60 will feature True Focus with APL (Absolute Position Lock), making auto-focus substantially easier and more accurate for photography professionals.

As part of the celebration honoring the first manned lunar landing and the first lunar photography, camera manufacturer Hasselblad is announcing another first, the launch of the H4D camera series. The first model in the new series is the H4D-60, featuring a 60 Megapixel medium format sensor.

“We are thrilled to be able to announce the introduction of the H4D,” says Christian Poulsen, CEO of Hasselblad. “This step represents the natural evolution of our H System and of our photographic strategy in general. As part of our efforts to inspire 35mm photographers to step up to the quality found in high-end DSLRs, the H4D series is built upon the successful H3D platform and features our revolutionary True Focus technology. The H4D also comes bundled with our new Phocus 2.0 imaging software.”

True Focus and Absolute Position Lock“True Focus helps solve one of the most lingering challenges that faces serious photographers today,” he continues, “true, accurate focusing throughout the image field. Without multi-point auto-focus a typical auto-focus camera can only correctly measure focus on a subject that is in the center of the image. When a photographer wants to focus on a subject outside the center area, they have to lock focus on the subject and then re-compose the image. In short distances especially, this re-composing causes focus error, as the plane of focus sharpness follows the camera’s movement, perpendicular to the axis of the lens.”

The traditional solution for most DSLRs has been to equip the camera with a multi-point AF sensor. These sensors allow the photographer to fix an off-center focus point on an off-center subject, which is then focused correctly. Such multi-point AF solutions are often tedious and inflexible to work with, however, and do not really solve the problem, claims Poulsen.

“Photographers have grown accustomed to using auto-focus systems in their day to day work and we see increasingly higher numbers of focus points advertised in each new wave of AF products. The term ‘multi-point auto-focus’ is a bit misleading, however, for cameras with sensors larger than APS,” claims Poulsen. “Due to the physics of an SLR-camera, the off-center focus points that are offered are all clustered relatively close to the center of the image. To set focus outside of this center area, the photographer is still forced to focus first, and then shift the camera to reframe, with the resulting loss of focus as a result.

To overcome this problem, Hasselblad has used modern yaw rate sensor technology to measure angular velocity in an innovative way. The result is the new Absolute Position Lock (APL) processor, which forms the foundation of Hasselblad’s True Focus feature. The APL processor accurately logs camera movement during any re-composing, then uses these exact measurements to calculate the necessary focus adjustment, and issues the proper commands to the lens’s focus motor so it can compensate. The APL processor computes the advanced positional algorithms and carries out the required focus corrections at such rapid speed that no shutter lag occurs. The H4D’s firmware then further perfects the focus using the precise data retrieval system found on all HC/HCD lenses.

“This technology takes AF to an entirely new level, correcting for the vertical and horizontal focus-shift that results from the rotation of the camera around an axis close to camera,” says Poulsen, “In simple terms, True Focus allows the photographer to concentrate on their composition, to focus on their creativity, while True Focus takes care of the other, more mechanical focus.”

True Focus on the H4D can be set to work at a half press of the camera release button, or via any user button programmed to AF-drive when the camera is in manual focus mode. This, the first release of True Focus, only corrects the horizontal and vertical positioning of the camera, and does not correct for any focus-shift which results from larger lateral movements of the camera during recomposing. The True Focus technology and APL (both patent pending) mark a significant milestone for Hasselblad’s high-end DSLR strategy and represent the result of many years of development work.

Faster Software, Shorter Learning CurveThe new user interface in Phocus 2.0 drastically reduces the learning curve for high-end imaging. The average photographer will be up to speed in less than 15 minutes, claims Hasselblad CEO Christian Poulsen. Functionality has not been lowered, however, with Phocus 2.0 matching or bettering the speed, functions, and usability found in Lightroom, Aperture, and Capture One.

“We’ve increased speed, increased functionality, and dramatically increased the speed at which photographers can learn to use this advanced software,” says Poulsen. “In less than 5 minutes an amateur photographer can learn to work with our images. In less than 10 minutes, learn how to setup for production of high-res files for Photoshop. In less than 20 minutes learn how to shoot tethered as a professional studio photographer. The new version of Phocus is just another step in our efforts to make complex functionality simple to use, allowing photographers to focus on their shooting.”

This philosophy lies behind a range of the features found in the H4D, including Hasselblad Natural Color Solution (HNCS), which achieves consistent color reproduction using a single color profile, and digital lens correction (DAC) which perfects each image captured through the HC/HCD lenses, by removing any trace of distortion, vignetting or chromatic aberrations. It was also the key motivation for what will surely be the most attractive feature in the new H4D, Hasselblad True Focus, explains Poulsen.

The Hasselblad H4D-60 will be available for delivery in January 2010 at a price of 28,995 €.The Hasselblad H4D-50 will replace the H3DII-50. Delivery of the H4D-50 will begin in Q1, 2010 at a price of 19,995 €. H3DII-50 cameras purchased between now and Q1, 2010 will be upgraded to the H4D-50 free of charge. A program is also being announced for owners of H3D-31 and H3D-39 cameras to step up onto the H4D platform.

Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center hosts Imaging USA, an international convention and tradeshow for professional photographers, January 10-12, 2010.

Atlanta, GA ( Vocus/PRWEB ) September 26, 2009 --Imaging USA, one of the world's largest events for professional photographers, has picked Music City, USA, for its 2010 convention and tradeshow. Imaging USA expects to rock the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center with more than 8,000 photographic industry specialists when its annual convention opens on January 10.

The country's longest running photographic convention will feature a unique combination of artistic and business education designed specifically for professional photographers, whether they've been in business for years, or are just starting out. "For a photographer, true success is a combination of artistic and business skills," states Ron Nichols, president of Professional Photographers of America (PPA). "And we believe the best education for both sides of the photographic success equation can be found at Imaging USA."

Presented by an alliance of PPA, the Society of Sport and Event Photographers (SEP), Commercial Photographers International (CPI), and Evidence Photographers International Council (EPIC), Imaging USA is expected to draw attendees from around the world. It features presentations by some of the industry's biggest names, including Yervant, Tony Corbell, Denis Reggie, Katrin Eismann and Jeff and Julia Woods, among others.

Renowned among photographers for its intensive educational offerings, Imaging USA classes focus on different photographic specialties and "tricks of the trade" geared towards improving a photographer's business skills, photographic repertoire and use of technologies. Classes run all day with breaks in between so attendees can visit the Imaging Expo where hundreds of the industry's leading vendors showcase their products. "Regardless of what product I'm looking for, the Imaging Expo always seems to have it. Plus, vendors typically offer deals at the show that aren't always available elsewhere," says Nichols.

"You see the best of the best at Imaging USA," adds Ernie Johnson, PPA member and executive director of the Tennessee Professional Photographers Association (TPPA). "The vendors are industry leaders, the products are cutting-edge and the education is unmatched. TPPA members are very excited that Imaging USA chose Nashville as its venue this year--it's a wonderful networking opportunity for photographers in Tennessee and surrounding areas."

Nichols says Nashville's central location was a key consideration for this visual artists' conference. "Many of our members are within a day's driving distance of Nashville, making this year's venue a very attractive option when travel budgets are tight."

Other notable features of Imaging USA 2010:

* World's Largest Annual Print Exhibit--Open to the Public. The world's largest annual photographic exhibit will features over 2,300 images this year. The display is open to the public and there is no charge for admission.

* Special Events and Presentations. A full slate of exclusive events and parties will be brought to attendees by platinum plus sponsors, including White House Custom Colour, Kodak and Canon.

* Pre-Convention Courses. Imaging USA will offer three days of in-depth pre-convention programming for an additional fee (from classes on the business of photography to hands-on workshops that allow photographers to work with several different pros, one at a time).

* Specialty classes for sport and event photography. Imaging USA attendees can also take classes (for no additional fee) at SEPCON, the co-located Sport and Event Photographers Conference.

* Evidence Photographers International Council School and Certification Classes. For an additional fee, attendees can participate in EPIC School to learn about forensic and crime scene photography.

Registration for the conference is open to all professional photographers and several options are available, including full conference and one-day passes. A special promotion includes a free full conference registration for new members who join PPA prior to the show. For more information about Imaging USA or to register for the conference, visit www.imagingusa.org or call 800-786-6277.

About Imaging USAImaging USA began in 1880 as the annual convention and tradeshow for Professional Photographers of America and is the longest running national photographic convention, expo and image exhibition in the United States. Always growing and evolving, Imaging USA became home to two new conferences in 2006: SEPCON (the Sport and Event Photographers Conference), the annual conference of the Society of Sport and Event Photographers, and the Commercial Photography Conference, the annual conference of Commercial Photographers International. In 2006, Imaging USA also welcomed Adobe as an official sponsor of the Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom for Photographers track, now the Adobe Photography Solutions track. In 2008, Imaging USA welcomed EPIC School (Evidence Photographers International Council). For registration information and complete program details, visit www.imagingusa.org.

About Professional Photographers of America (PPA)Professional Photographers of America (PPA), an international nonprofit association for professional photographers, exists to assist its 22,000 members in achieving their professional, artistic, and fraternal goals; promote public awareness of the profession; and to advance the making of images in all of its disciplines as an art, a science and a visual recorder of history. For more information, visit www.ppa.com or call 800.786.6277.

About Society of Sport and Event Photographers (SEP)The Society of Sport & Event Photographers (SEP) is a private, nonprofit association dedicated exclusively to serving the needs of sport and event photographers. SEP marshals the resources of the event photography industry and delivers them to its members via their exclusive online content, Action News publication and live events. For more information, visit www.SEPsociety.com or call 877-427-3778.

About Commercial Photographers International (CPI)Commercial Photographers International (CPI) is a nonprofit organization focused on the changing needs of commercial photographers. For more information, visit www.MyCPI.com.

About Evidence Photographers International Council (EPIC)Evidence Photographers International Council (EPIC) was founded in 1968 as a nonprofit educational and scientific organization with the primary purpose of advancing evidence photography. In 2009, the Evidence Photographer Certification was launched, dedicated to raising the standard in the industry. For more information, please visit www.EvidencePhotographers.com or call 866-868-EPIC (3742).

Sunday, September 27, 2009

The just-released Topaz ReMask plug-in supercharges masking and extraction in Photoshop by applying new extraction technology to this common task. Get lightning-fast masks and painlessly preserve difficult details like hair and fur, all while staying completely in Photoshop.

The new Topaz ReMask offers several distinct advantages over older masking solutions:

- Speed! Topaz ReMask is much faster at extracting even complex subjects than any other method currently available. This is partly because there's only a small amount of required user input, but mostly because its technology is so adept at creating masks automatically.

- Accuracy! The hardest subjects for masking tools are those with complex backgrounds, faint edges, and fine detail like fur or hair. The unique algorithm that Topaz ReMask uses specialize in extracting "difficult" subjects without spending all day doing it.

- Workflow! Topaz ReMask flawlessly integrates into a Photoshop workflow because it doesn't make a trip to an external app - there isn't even a new user interface to learn! It works immediately on the layer mask directly within Photoshop. This reduces the learning curve and saves processing time, which is part of what makes it so fast and simple to use.

(An important thing to note is that this version of Topaz ReMask only works in Adobe Photoshop because it makes use of Photoshop-specific layer masks. See the website for more information.)

Topaz ReMask will retail for $69.99 or as part of the Topaz Photoshop bundle. As we often do, we're attaching a substantial discount to the introductory price for newsletter subscribers: enter the coupon code easyremask to buy it for $29.99! This code will expire October 31, 2009.

Friday, September 25, 2009

WORLD TECH UPDATE #83 - September 25, 2009 In this week's show Paul Otellini kicks off Intel Developer Forum, the Tokyo Game show lets attendees play Final Fantasy XIII, Sony shows off the PS3 Motion Controller, Alienware launches new gaming PCs, Oracle CEO Larry Ellison rants about cloud computing, a new iPhone app integrates 3D objects into images and Logitech expands the Squeezebox line. Find out what's coming up on each week's show by following us on Twitter (WorldTechUpdate) or check out our Facebook fan page: http://tinyurl.com/wtu-fb

The Pixmac microstock agency is proud to announce that we now offer 7 million stock photos for our customers. Only a few competitors can say the same. Our collection consists of 3 sources. Two are creative and one editorial called “Celebrity”.

PRLog (Press Release) – Sep 24, 2009 –Pixmac is the fastest way to get a stock photo or illustration for your design for a price that might surprise you.

When the pink company launched its marketplace in September 2008 it might have seemed like just another microstock company that is trying to make it. But look how much we have grown in a year! Pixmac has partners in 9 major markets and its sales are growing faster than expected.

Our company is growing faster than other competitors in the microstock market according to respected site Alexa.com and the amount of pictures grows with it. Not only that, Pixmac invented the “One Stop Shopping” way to get inexpensive quality photos in a matter of seconds without need of registration. Lee Torrens, a well known microstock blogger, says: “I LOVE your one-stop-shopping idea! It has always been a missing element of microstock agencies...” Yes, Pixmac focuses on speed and user friendliness.

Pixmac offers a lot now and has more in the oven to offer our customers. For example, Pixmac is working with a University on a project that will change your searching abilities and will make searching quicker and easier. We are also adding another few million photos to the database soon and working on some nice stock photo searching tweaks.

This week we're launching a new updated website together with features such as Moneybookers payment method which added with payments by PayPal and/or Credit Card. Also we have included a popular feature that sorts search results by downloads or date.

Vitezslav Valka (CEO) comments: “I’m always thrilled to see our customers happy with the user interface. Everybody deserves an easy tool that just works. I’m watching everything that happens in the company and believe me, it’s better than Red Bull and Duracell together!”

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Higher Megapixels, New Underwater Settings Bring Underwater Photography to the Next Level

MOORESTOWN, N.J. – Colorful tropical fish, white sand beaches and crystal blue waters all come together; creating the perfect vivid setting to capture your memories. SeaLife brings all the true colors of the water and the world to your photographs. SeaLife’s new DC1000 10-megapixel camera now has features specifically designed to allow for the best possible photographs, both in and out of the water.

The newest addition to the SeaLife line debuts the Easy Set-up mode - a graphic on-screen guide that takes the guess work out of setting up the camera for great pictures on land or underwater. The DC1000 includes four new specially designed underwater modes that make it simple and easy to take perfect pictures in any water setting and its updated design includes an ergonomic grip, large shutter button and well-spaced buttons make the camera easy to handle and user-friendly. Versatility is key, as users can take stunning photographs anywhere. No matter the location or the situation, the DC1000 can handle the environment.

The unit functions just as effectively top-side as it does under water by easily removing the slim inner camera from its waterproof housing. The 10-megapixel camera includes5x optical zoom, auto-focus to 2 inches (5 cm) and features a video mode for high-resolution digital videos with sound. Its large 2.7 inch LCD allows perfect framing and easy on-camera viewing. It has virtually no shutter lag for fast action photography thanks to the fast shutter response time and quick-start.

“The DC1000 is another step up in making great pictures easy” said Joe Ifi, SeaLife’s director of sales and marketing. “Ease of use and advanced adaptation to underwater conditions have made SeaLife the leader in underwater cameras. With its new features and upgrade in technology geared towards the SCUBA diver and underwater enthusiast, the DC1000 is sure to add a new dimension of fun in and out of water.”

SPY mode allows the camera to take continuous pictures at set time intervals so you capture the perfect shot of hard to photograph subjects. Select the desired time interval from 5 seconds to 5 minutes and push the shutter button. The camera will automatically take pictures until the memory card is full, you push the shutter button again or the camera runs out of power. Capture those impossible pictures when you can’t get close enough to the subject. The SPY mode has endless applications limited only to your creativity.

The camera system includes 32 MB of built-in memory, and an SD/SDHC Card can be added for up to 16 Gigabyte of memory. Included is a high capacity rechargeable lithium battery (1250mAh) that will power the camera for a two-tank dive and 200+ photographs.

The DC100 is available at dive and photo shops nationwide at a suggested list price of $549.95, and it is compatible with SeaLife’s line of accessories.

SeaLife Cameras, recognized by TIME Magazine for one of “The Most Amazing Inventions Of 2005" for its DC500 digital camera, is a leading manufacturer in digital dive cameras, with over 25 years of experience designing durable waterproof cameras to the specific needs of outdoor and watersports enthusiasts.

Valhalla, NY, September 23, 2009 – FUJIFILM U.S.A., Inc. today announced the availability of the Instax Mini 7S Instant Camera and Instax Mini Instant Color Film to the U.S. market. The Instax Mini 7S is a compact and lightweight instant film solution ideal for the on-the-go photographer or photo enthusiast. With its sleek and stylish design as well as high end Fujinon optics, the Instax Mini offers customers a great looking camera that produces great looking, high-quality, credit-card sized, instant prints. Fujifilm’s line-up of Instax instant cameras have been enjoying success in Asia and Europe for years, which has helped generate a loyal following in the United States, particularly over the last year.

“Once we introduced the Instax 200 Instant Film Camera System to professional and commercial markets in the U.S. late last year, we immediately began to receive inquiries about the availability of additional Instax cameras for the consumer market,” said Kayce Baker, director of marketing, Professional Markets, Imaging Division, FUJIFILM U.S.A., Inc. “We believe the portability, chic design and print quality will be exactly what consumers are looking for in an instant photo solution that doesn’t require any auxiliary printing device.”

The Instax Mini 7S Instant Camera and Instax Mini Instant Film will be available at retail locations beginning in September, 2009. MSRP for the Instax Mini 7S Instant Film Camera is $95.99 while MSRP for a 10-Pack of Instax Mini Instant Film is $19.99.

Starting in the late 1980’s, Fujifilm began producing instant films in Japan and by 2003 was introducing branded peel-apart type instant films to the United States. The company’s ongoing commitment to the culture of photography is a global, corporate commitment that is a key part of how Fujifilm contributes to the quality of life for people worldwide

To learn more about the Fujifilm Instax Mini 7S Instant Film Camera and Instax Mini Instant Film, or to find out more about Fujifilm’s entire line-up of instant film solutions, visit www.fujifilmusa.com.

About FUJIFILMFUJIFILM U.S.A. Inc. is a marketing subsidiary of FUJIFILM Corporation providing digital and analog photographic imaging systems and services and Motion Picture Film products and services to consumers, professionals and businesses. For more information please visit www.fujifilmusa.com, or go to www.twitter.com/fujifilmus to follow Fujifilm on Twitter. To receive news and information direct from Fujifilm U.S.A. via RSS, subscribe free at www.fujifilmusa.com/rss.

FUJIFILM Corporation brings continuous innovation and leading-edge products to a broad spectrum of industries, including electronic imaging, photofinishing equipment, medical systems, life sciences, graphic arts, flat panel display materials, and office products, based on a vast portfolio of digital, optical, fine chemical and thin film coating technologies. The company was among the top 15 companies around the world granted U.S. patents in 2008, employs more than 70,000 people worldwide and in the year ended March 31, 2009, had global revenues of $24 billion. Fujifilm is committed to environmental stewardship and good corporate citizenship. For more information, please visit www.fujifilmholdings.com.

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All product and company names herein may be trademarks of their registered owners./span>

Valhalla, NY, September 23, 2009 – FUJIFILM U.S.A., Inc. today announced its intention to cease production of pictrography materials effective February 2010 as the company continues to lead the industry with investments and innovations in the future of dry, digital print technology.

“Increasingly businesses are investing in new dry digital print technologies, such as inkjet,” said Doug Fachnie. “Fujifilm looks forward to helping its pictrography materials customers in identifying the most suitable inkjet or dye sublimation solutions for their future business requirements.”

Fujifilm will receive final shipments of its pictrography materials in April 2010 for US distribution. That product is expected to have a shelf life expiration of February 2012. Sale of these materials is expected to end early 2011 depending on inventory.

As the leading provider of inkjet print heads, high performance colorants for the inkjet printing sector, and inks and consumables for the inkjet, screen and narrow web print markets, Fujifilm continues to bring its retail, commercial and professional customers the widest range of imaging technologies, all built on an unparalleled photographic heritage and a commitment to delivering the highest quality color output.

Customers using Fujifilm pictrography materials should contact their Fujifilm sales representative or authorized Fujifilm distributor for more information.

About FUJIFILM

FUJIFILM U.S.A. Inc. is a marketing subsidiary of FUJIFILM Corporation providing digital and analog photographic imaging systems and services and Motion Picture Film products and services to consumers, professionals and businesses. For more information please visit www.fujifilmusa.com, or go to www.twitter.com/fujifilmus to follow Fujifilm on Twitter. To receive news and information direct from Fujifilm U.S.A. via RSS, subscribe free at www.fujifilmusa.com/rss.

FUJIFILM Corporation brings continuous innovation and leading-edge products to a broad spectrum of industries, including electronic imaging, photofinishing equipment, medical systems, life sciences, graphic arts, flat panel display materials, and office products, based on a vast portfolio of digital, optical, fine chemical and thin film coating technologies. The company was among the top 15 companies around the world granted U.S. patents in 2008, employs more than 70,000 people worldwide and in the year ended March 31, 2009, had global revenues of $24 billion. Fujifilm is committed to environmental stewardship and good corporate citizenship. For more information, please visit www.fujifilmholdings.com.

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All product and company names herein may be trademarks of their registered owners.

New York, NY (PRWEB) September 23, 2009 -- Shutterstock, the world's largest subscription-based stock photo agency, announced that it has acquired BigStockPhoto, a leading credit-based stock photo agency, headquartered in Davis, California. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

"BigStockPhoto is a leader in the stock photo industry, and an excellent fit for Shutterstock as we expand into the credit-based market," said Jon Oringer, founder and CEO of Shutterstock. "This addition will enable Shutterstock to better satisfy the diverse payment preferences of stock photo buyers worldwide."

According to the deal, BigStockPhoto will remain a separate entity, and Shutterstock plans to grow the company's global presence by investing heavily in marketing, infrastructure and user experience.

BigStockPhoto was founded in 2004 to provide an alternative to high-priced stock photography, and to create a marketplace for photographers to sell their work. In addition to its diverse library of 3.7 Million royalty-free photos and vectors, the agency has created a vibrant community of image buyers and submitters from around the world.

About Shutterstock®Founded in 2003, Shutterstock is the largest subscription-based stock photo agency in the world. Its outstanding collection of premium photos, illustrations, and vectors combined with a selection of innovative, user-friendly subscription plans has made Shutterstock a trusted resource for an expanding global customer base. An industry pioneer in selling royalty-free stock by subscription, Shutterstock was also the first online photo agency to offer editorial photos and launch a video library. Shutterstock Footage offers a comprehensive library of royalty-free video clips available on a per-clip basis or by subscription. For more information, visit Shutterstock.com.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--RGB Ventures LLC today announced that its SuperStock division has acquired from Art Life Images all artist distribution contracts covering approximately 80,000 rights-managed travel images. With offices in Jacksonville, Florida, Art Life is a distributor focused on rights-managed travel images. Terms of this acquisition were not disclosed.

"We're excited to add Art Life’s impressive library of images to our existing travel collection," stated Lanny Ziering, CEO of RGB Ventures and SuperStock. "Travel imagery has always been a strength of SuperStock and this acquisition will help us to consolidate our position," added Ziering.

In addition to the imagery, the deal brings to SuperStock relationships with more than twenty travel photographers from around the world. “These photographers bring new perspectives and creativity to the Superstock travel collection,” said Carolyn Guidoin, Creative Director of SuperStock

In a separate transaction, SuperStock acquired a collection of 4,000 images from Jack Hollingsworth’s LLC (www.jackhollingsworth.com). The images cover a range of subjects including lifestyle, travel, and education. “This collection is a great addition to our Purestock brand. It responds directly to our client requests for authentic people in real life settings,” stated Carolyn Guidoin.

About RGB Ventures LLC, dba SuperStockFounded in 1973, SuperStock ( www.superstock.com ) offers over 3 million Rights-Managed and Royalty-Free Images. RGB Ventures Inc., a collaboration of Rubberball, Glow Images, and Blend Images, acquired SuperStock in January of this year. SuperStock has an extensive collection of contemporary and travel photography as well as world-class Fine Art and Vintage collections.

Intelligent Technology and Ease of Use Delivers the Power to Do More with Photos

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Sept. 23, 2009 —Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today announced Adobe®Photoshop®Elements 8 software available for Windows® and Mac, providing automated and intelligent photo-editing technology across both platforms. With the newest version of the No. 1 selling consumer photo-editing software,* Adobe continues to make cutting-edge innovation accessible to users who want powerful yet easy-to-use tools to tell compelling stories with their photos.

“With nearly 20 years of Photoshop innovation under our belt, we are able to leverage industry-leading technology that the professionals use and make it accessible to our Elements customers,” said Doug Mack, vice president and general manager of Consumer and Hosted Solutions at Adobe. “We've simplified the editing process, without taking away any of the power, and incorporated smart tools with built-in intelligence to bring once difficult tasks, within reach of everyone.”

Adobe Photoshop Elements 8 for WindowsWith the enhanced Organizer, Windows users of Adobe Photoshop Elements 8 can easily manage media and find photo and video clips even faster than before. The new Auto-Analyzer automatically analyzes and tags media so users can quickly find the most interesting and highest quality content and People Recognition identifies people in photos, becoming more intelligent over time, as it learns to associate names and faces. Also, consumers can now automatically synch all their media across multiple computers.

Photoshop Elements 8 brings editing capabilities and simplicity to a new level. With Adobe Photomerge® Exposure, users can simply merge multiple shots of the same scene, with and without a flash, together to create a perfectly lit photo that shows every detail. Leveraging Photoshop CS4 technology, the new Recompose provides users with an easy way to automatically resize photos without distorting the most important parts. Additionally, Quick Fix previews allow users to visually choose the best color, contrast and lighting adjustments from a series of previews. Once photo creations are ready to be shared, Photoshop Elements 8 offers new interactive Online Album templates that can showcase photos and videos together.

For even more creative possibilities, Windows users have the option to purchase Plus. Additional benefits include 20GB of storage for automatic online backup and sharing (up to 15,000 photos or four hours of DVD-quality video), as well as regular deliveries of tutorials, tips and tricks, seasonal artwork and interactive online templates sent directly to the desktop software. Photos and videos can also be accessed anywhere with an Internet connection at Photoshop.com.

Adobe Photoshop Elements 8 for MacPhotoshop Elements 8 for Mac is the perfect complement to iPhoto® for consumers who want to go beyond the basics and tell amazing stories with their photos. The software is loaded with new options to make extraordinary photos with ease. For media management, Mac users have access to all the features in Adobe Bridge CS4 software, which provides quick organization with a custom viewing workspace and full-screen preview with one-click close-ups. Keyword tags and a variety of search options also make it easy to find photos quickly.

Photoshop Elements 8 for Mac now includes all of the intelligent photo-editing options as the Windows version. In addition to Photomerge Exposure, Recompose and Quick Fix previews, Photoshop Elements 8 for Mac features Scene Cleaner for brushing away unwanted elements, such as tourists or cars, from a series of photos to create the perfect scene. The Smart Brush helps users apply incredible effects to a specific area of a photo with a single stroke and Touch-Up brushes make common editing tasks quick, such as whitening teeth or making bright blue skies. When creations are ready to be shared with family and friends, users can display their photos on the Web with gallery templates or personal Web pages, by e-mail and on CD or DVD.

Pricing and AvailabilityAdobe Photoshop Elements 8 (Windows) is available now at www.adobe.com, and Adobe Photoshop Elements 8 for Mac will be available in Oct. 2009. Both products will be available soon at retail outlets such as Amazon.com, Apple (Mac only), Costco.com (Windows only), Best Buy, Office Depot and Office Max.

Photoshop Elements 8 (Windows) is available for US$99.99, and users can purchase Plus from within the product for US$49.99/year. Plus is available to Windows customers in the U.S. only. Photoshop Elements 8 for Mac will be available for US$99.99.